On Wednesday, Mar. 2, at 7:30pm, the Brecht Forum at Westbeth (451 West St., corner of Bank St.) in Manhattan will be celebrating the 100th birthday of the man who made Brecht & Weill household words in America: Marc Blitzstein, a seminal figure in American music, theatre, and opera, best known for his translation/adaptation of THE THREEPENNY OPERA, as well as his own Broadway operas THE CRADLE WILL ROCK and REGINA, and the unfinished TALES OF MALAMUD and SACCO AND VANZETTI. In January 1936, Blitzstein played his song about a prostitute, “The Nickel Under the Foot” at a party for Brecht, who then suggested that it be expanded to show how under capitalism everyone sells out. That became THE CRADLE WILL ROCK. A tape recording, discovered in the archives only last summer, of Blitzstein playing and singing that song will be played in public for the first time at the symposium.…
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The American Society for Jewish Music has launched the New Jewish Music Forum. Speaking in New York at the Center for Jewish History last Friday on Feb. 11 was Edwin Seroussi, Head of the Jewish Music Research Center located at Hebrew University in Jersualem. Seroussi, who spoke on “Studying Jewish Music in Israel: Achievements, Failures and Challenges for the Future,” also has a recently released book called “Popular Music and National Culture in Israel.” Seroussi’s talk centered on both the historic and political as well as artistic influences that shaped the course of Israeli music. Mark Kligman of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion moderated. His respondent at the forum was Professor Stephen Blum, City University of New York. Professor Seroussi is also the Emanuel Alexandre Professor of Musicology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.…
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Wednesday, February 9th, 4:30pm
Congregation Shaare Zedek
212 W. 93 St. (E. of Broadway)
NYC
Further info: (212) 724-6388
Acclaimed Yiddishist CARAID O’BRIEN will appear at the Westside Yiddish Cultural School, located in the basement of Congregation Shaare Zedek. Ms. O’Brien will relate her experiences growing up in an Irish-American family in Boston, her serendipitous discovery of Yiddish, and her career dedicated to the Yiddish language as a Yiddishist, actress and writer (as profiled in the NEW YORK TIMES). This event is free and open to the public. Seating will be on a first-come basis.